The Monster Guide to Planning Your First Thailand Trip: 58 Essential Travel Tips

IN THIS GUIDE //

Planning a Thailand Trip

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1. THAILAND MONEY TIPS
2. CULTURAL TRAVEL TIPS
3. SAFETY TIPS
4. FOOD AND DRINK TIPS
5. LOGISTICAL TRAVEL TIPS
6. HOW TO BOOK YOUR THAILAND TRIP
7. TIPS FOR SHOPPING IN THAILAND
8. TRANSPORT TIPS
9. LEGAL STUFF TO KNOW
FINAL THOUGHTS

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1.3. Tagthai Could Save You Money

If you’re spending some time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket or Ayutthaya, this digital travel pass might save you money on attractions if you’re short on time.

TagThai gives free entry and dining options across your chosen city for 24 hours. If you’re planning on filling your day with activities from dawn to dusk, TagThai could potentially be a winner for you.

Check out the TagThai website to see if it might help you out.

1.4. Thai ATMs Will Always Charge You

In Thailand, it’s 250 baht per withdrawal, no matter how much you take out or which bank you use.

This means it makes sense to take out as much cash as possible per withdrawal – the yellow Krungsri machines have the highest withdrawal limit of 30,000 baht. It’s possible your home bank will limit you to less (for example, ours only lets us withdraw around 20,000 baht at the current exchange rate).

Tip | when withdrawing cash at an ATM abroad, never choose to convert into your home currency, the rate is always terrible.

1.6. Should You Tip in Thailand?

Tipping isn’t a big thing in Thailand.

You’ll hear so many different accounts of ‘how to tip in Thailand’, but at the end of the day, what matters is that the money you spend doesn’t disrupt the economy too much (be aware of the minimum wage and don’t tip someone in tourism more than a doctor earns, for example).

Here are some pointers:

⬩ In super posh restaurants, 10% is a good tip, although many places now just include this in the final price (always check the menu and receipt).

⬩ In local restaurants, round up to the nearest easy number (so a 20-baht tip is absolutely fine).

⬩ For taxis, like Grab, we tend to tip 20 baht if the journey was slow, but if I’m getting a lift around the corner, I probably wouldn’t.

⬩ For tours, we tip based on the quality of service. If we have a bad time, we never tip. If we have a great time, it would depend on the initial cost, but maybe 100 baht or so (this definitely varies depending on the initial cost).

⬩ I never get massages, but I’d probably tip 100 baht if everything was good.

Note | tipping isn’t a thing that Thai people do. It’s not expected from you and anyone directly asking for a tip is doing so because you’re a foreigner (and usually it’s sketchy behaviour to do that). We would never, ever, tip 25 percent, USA style. It’s just not done here and would be totally inappropriate.

1.7. Getting Your Tax Back in Thailand

If you really need a new laptop, earbuds, shoes, or phone, maybe consider purchasing them in Bangkok. The prices are highly competitive and almost certainly cheaper than most visitors’ home countries.

We actually bought our MacBook Pro in Bangkok, directly from the Apple shop, saving hundreds of pounds compared with the UK. Via a VAT refund, we also got another large chunk of money back when we left the country, too.

Tip | keep your receipt and VAT form from the shop and have the product on hand for inspection at the VAT refund section at the airport (follow signs, they’re really obvious).

1.8. Is Alcohol Expensive in Thailand?

Yes, alcohol is relatively expensive in Thailand (but it depends on what you drink).

I know most people want to enjoy a few beverages while on holiday, but if you are on a budget, avoid having too many beers! Generally, the price of alcohol in Thailand is far in excess of other costs, like food and transport.

Wine and craft beers are particularly expensive, the same goes for imported spirits. Even a bottle of basic Thai beer, like Chang, will set you back 80-120 baht (more on the islands).

Tip | I know some people have to have their alcoholic beverages, but for anyone more flexible, consider swapping out a beer for a fruit smoothie, even just for alternating drinks. It’ll save you loads of money and keep you cool!

2.3. Malls are a Tourist Attraction

I’m not typically a mall person. However, in Thailand I’m a major mall person (I’m a fan of anywhere with aircon).

They’re the hub of middle-class Thai society – with sometimes hundreds of restaurants and food stalls, supermarkets, cinemas and all sorts of other activities inside. Every major city has a few malls – usually with a top or bottom floor covered in affordable food options.

Also, Bangkok’s malls are absolutely world class. If you’re curious, check out Sukhumvit’s Siam Paragon, CentralWorld and the Em District, plus Iconsiam and Asiatique along the Chao Phraya River.

Don’t rule them out!

2.4. Thailand’s Cats and Dogs

Thailand has a lot of dogs (and a fair few cats, too). These street dogs (or soi dogs as they’re called by lots of people here) are mostly harmless, but be wary of gangs of them in early mornings, especially in rural areas. Carrying a stick helps as a deterrent.

If you’re bitten by a dog, rinse your wound and go straight to a doctor (even if you have had a vaccine). Rabies is present in Thailand and is always fatal without treatment.

Tip | if you’re keen to help the cat and dog population, check out one of the many animal shelters that feed and neuter animals. You can often visit and help out or make donations, such as the highly reputable Lanta Animal Welfare Centre, for example. Always do your due diligence and ensure that your money is going to an ethical sanctuary (check reviews and websites in advance).

2.5. Photography in Thailand

Thailand is photogenic – we have spent many a day wandering the country looking for epic photography spots. However:

Thai people are generally friendly, but that doesn’t mean they necessarily like to be photographed. Always be aware of the ethics of photographing people in compromising positions or in private residences, in particular. Street photography may be legal, but that doesn’t justify taking photos of people and places that you wouldn’t do at home.

Specifically, I see a lot of photos of little Thai kids taken by people on holiday, published on social media. Fundamentally, this is treating them as lesser-valued people if you wouldn’t consider doing it in your resident country.

So: don’t take photos of kids without permission. In fact, don’t take any photos that you wouldn’t be comfortable having taken of your own family.

Note | there is a difference between travel photographers doing what they do professionally and a dodgy, out of focus, cell phone ‘happy snap’ with no artistic merit. In particular, dodgy quality pics of random Thai people – I have no idea why anyone would publish photos like that. There are so many ethical issues involved, too, especially of photos that perpetuate (often inaccurate) stereotypes. Unless you’re a photographer who has studied the ethics of a situation, keep the phone shots to yourself.

If you’re interesting in upping your happy snaps game, have a peek at our comprehensive travel photography tips.

2.6. Do Not Ride Elephants

It’s 2026 and, tragically, this still has to be reiterated. Elephants are not for riding. You’ll see it explicitly in places like Ayutthaya Historical Park and the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya.

There is a plethora of information on animal ethics out there in the internet-sphere, detailing what is acceptable when it comes to any kind of animal tourism. Check out as much information as you can before booking anything to do with animals and make a thoroughly educated choice.

Remember, truly ethical wildlife encounters are always entirely hands off.

There are only a few fully ethical elephant ‘sanctuaries’ in Thailand. Here are a few we’d recommend from our research:

ChangChill | Chiang Mai
Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary | Sukhothai
Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary | Chiang Mai
Following Giants | Koh Lanta and Krabi
Somboon Legacy Foundation | Kanchanaburi

Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket are both popular, but are not entirely hands off (as far as we are aware). Also, be careful if you go to either of these as other, sketchier ‘sanctuaries’ impersonate them.

We’ve written a little about Koh Chang’s elephants and Ayutthaya’s Elephants if you’re interested in more detail.

2.7. Respectfully Greet People with the Wai

Thai people don’t tend to shake hands, so don’t do that!

Instead, they dip their head towards you with hands in a sort of prayer position, called a Wai. That’s the thing to do.

You don’t need to respond to a wai with a wai as a tourist, just nod and smile in response.

2.8. Don’t Touch Heads or Point Feet

The head is the most revered part of the body in Buddhism, so don’t touch anyone on the head, even small children (I can’t imagine anyone would do this, but you know, just in case you’re a weird head toucher).

Also, don’t point your feet at anyone, or anything depicting the Buddha – it’s disrespectful.

3.2. Thailand is Very Hot

Thailand is really, really hot.

We’ve found it hotter than the Yucatan, Las Vegas or Saudi Arabia in the height of their summers. There’s a combination of pollution and humidity that makes it sweat central over here (take everything with a pinch of salt though because we are English and just can’t cope with anything over 25 degrees C).

If you’re not great with heat, make sure you avoid the impossibly hot months between April and June. Take in electrolytes liberally and don’t plan for strenuous middle of the day activities.

Also, wear clothes you are comfortable in – I find sweat-wicking leggings and t-shirts keep my skin out of the sun and also keep me (kind of) cooler.

3.3. Typical Scams in Thailand

I would say that, in my experience, Thailand is not particularly scammy. If you avoid tuktuk drivers and unmetered taxis in Bangkok, then, for the most part, you’re unlikely to come across anyone who will be actively trying to scam you.

You will be given tourist prices sometimes, and if you can’t read Thai it is hard to know what things should cost (use Google Translate to decipher menus and signs). I don’t consider this as a scam though unless it’s excessive (it’s more of a haggling and foreign tourist tax thing).

Tip | do not buy gems – this is a common scam in Bangkok.

Tip | remember, if someone approaches on the street asking where you’re from (especially in a touristy area), always be wary! It’s rare that a person would do that without an ulterior motive. Be prepared for the typical ‘help me with wound‘ and ‘I can sell you a herbal solution to balding‘ type things in areas like Nana in Bangkok. Just walk away.

3.4. Crime in Thailand

Just a quick note to say that crime is rare in Thailand, but not unheard of, particularly petty crime like pickpocketing and bag snatching.

Many tourists (who have visited one time for two weeks) will claim that Thailand is the safest country in the world. It’s not (in my opinion and also statistically) – that award goes to GCC countries like Oman and Saudi Arabia (in my experience).

Tip | take the usual precautions that you would anywhere, and don’t get too drunk. Most foreign visitors have incidents in Thailand because they drank too much.

4.2. Are Fruit and Salad Safe to Eat in Thailand?

This is the second most common question. Yes, you can eat the salad and fruit in Thailand, plus drink *all* the amazing-value smoothies. The general fear is that you’ll get sick because of contaminated water, but that’s highly unlikely.

Remember, there’s nowhere that would want to make a tourist sick (or resident, for that matter); it’s not good for business. I eat all the salad and fruits available – always (it’s the only food I can get here with low salt content!).

We’ve been living here for two years and travelled here for even longer and have never been sick from any kind of food contamination in Thailand.

4.3. Is Thailand’s Street Food Safe?

As with everything else, Thai street food is very unlikely to make you unwell.

We’ve eaten all the Thai street food options available, especially when we were very budget backpackers (we used to eat absolutely anything). There was never a time when we needed to use activated charcoal, probiotics or any other preventative medicine. Even when we used to eat loads of meat, we were never sick.

Last night we were out at a local Thai festival in Bangkok and ate *all* the mystery foods we could find. We feel absolutely fine today.

Tip | we are entirely vegetarian now (unrelated to the safety of Thailand’s street food). This is something we’d recommend if you are at all paranoid about getting ill, as it removes the (very low) meat risk.

4.4. Can You Drink The Ice in Thailand?

Yes, ice is safe in Thailand. It is made in factories and shipped around the country. The ice often has an obvious shape, kind of cylindrical with a hole in it (but not always, so don’t worry).

Drink all the iced smoothies and coffees, it’s hot here and nobody is going to poison you!

4.5. The Sneaky Fish of Thailand

If you’re a vegetarian or have any kind of seafood allergy, watch out for sneaky fish and oyster sauce. It’s not unheard of in Thailand to have a tofu dish made with seafood products.

Tip | there are lots of dedicated vegetarian restaurants popping up all over the place, and pad Thai doesn’t tend to have either sauce in.

4.6. Does Thailand Have Vegan Food?

We briefly touched on it above, but the typical Thai diet is not overly vegetarian/vegan friendly. Everywhere you go, there are meat skewers, egg products and sneaky fish sauce. Curries and stir fries from the more affordable street food places will all be predominantly made with meat, shrimp paste and fish sauce.

Things to know:

◊ There are dedicated vegetarian restaurants in many places (where vegan food is easily adapted) – literally just Google ‘vegetarian restaurants’.
◊ 7-Eleven has a bunch of excellent vegan meals in their freezer section (fantastic for quick food on the go).
◊ Pad Thai and som tam (papaya salad) are some of the easiest meals to go for as a vegan (they are easily adaptable).
◊ Food courts are a little easier to find semi-affordable vegan food. Most good ones in Bangkok now have at least one stall selling dedicated veggie stuff.
◊ Large supermarkets in Bangkok, like Tesco Lotus’s and Gourmet Foods, often have premade meals and ingredients that are vegan friendly. The more international the supermarket, the better time you’ll have.
◊ Indian food is a good option for vegans, but be careful of the ghee and cream.

Tip | the word for vegetarian is Thai is “mangsawerat” or for a vegan equivalent “jay/jey”. Often a vegetarian friendly place will have the symbol เจ written in red on a yellow background (it looks kind of like a ‘17’). We’ve even seen it on some foods in supermarkets and convenience stores.

4.7. Do People Use Chopsticks in Thailand?

Traditional Thai food doesn’t use chopsticks. Forks and spoons are the general go-to cutlery, so if you can’t use chopsticks, don’t worry.

You’ll often be given chopsticks if you order Chinese or Japanese food, but most places will have forks on hand in a pinch.

Tip | if you’re environmentally conscious, bring your own fork and spoon from home. Most street food stalls will give you plastic cutlery which you can decline to reduce waste.

5.3. Do People Speak English in Thailand?

Generally, Thai people do not speak particularly fluent English. Obviously this varies, and some people do, but it’s definitely not as common to find an English speaking Thai person compared to countries in Europe, the Middle East and even nearby places like Malaysia and the Philippines.

I live in Thailand, have taken Thai language classes in Bangkok and, despite my determined efforts, I still cannot properly speak Thai. This is the first country that has completely beaten me, and I always try. It’s not actually that hard to learn, but the pronunciation destroys me!

However, everyone can learn to say a few useful things:

Thank you | ‘khob-khun’
Hello | ‘sa-wat-dii’
No | ‘mai’
Yes | ‘chai’
The bill | ‘chék-bin’
No problem/don’t mention it | ‘mai-pen-rai’

The Thai language has two words to make a sentence polite, which go at the end of a sentence. These endings are ‘kha’ if you are a woman and ‘khrap’ if you are a man. So, when you ask for something, don’t forget your polite word at the end: sa-wat-dii kha is how you say hello if you are a woman.

Thought | many people in Thailand speak a little English, but I imagine that English is as difficult to learn for them as Thai is for a visitor. So, be respectful, try your hardest, and always have your Google Translate app ready!

5.4. What Plug Types Does Thailand Use?

Thailand uses four plug types: A, B, C and O:
 
Type A | two parallel flat prongs
Type B | two parallel flat prongs and a grounding pin
Type C | two round pins
Type O | three round pins
 
Thailand’s electricity operates at 230V supply and 50Hz.

Tip | if you forget your adaptor or bring the wrong one, everywhere, including 7-Eleven, sells adaptors. It’s no biggie.

5.5. Thailand’s Complicated Weather Seasons

We could write an entire post on the various seasons in Thailand. They’re complex and, particularly at the tail end of the seasons, often unpredictable. Succinctly, Thailand is:

Coolest and driest | December – February
Flaming hot | March – June
Damp and Raining | July – October
Mixed | November (in our experience!)

Different parts of Thailand have distinct climates and seasons, too. Here’s a very quick run-down of the best/worst times to visit:

Andaman Coast (e.g. Krabi and Phuket) | best between December and March. Boats run less frequently through the summer months and November is totally hit and miss (we’ve been totally rained out and even wore jumpers once!).

Bangkok | sort of okay year-round (because malls) but gets extremely hot in April and suffers some flooding during the rainy months of July-October.

Chiang Mai | avoid February through April anywhere in the north, including places like Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Nan, due to the burning season which makes the region almost unliveable.

South Gulf Coast (e.g. Koh Samui) | slightly more complicated, but December-February are the dryer months. These islands can also be a great alternative when the Andaman coast is rainy in summer.

Northern Gulf Coast (e.g. Koh Chang) | November to March is the best time to go, although we’ve had hit and miss weather at the beginning of this season. The rest of the year, these islands are mostly empty!

5.6. Why Does The Forecast Always Say Rain in Thailand?

Thailand is a tropical climate, and the weather forecasts rarely seem to get the rain predictions right, in our experience.

If you Google ‘weather Phuket’, it’s almost always saying rain. This might just mean 30 minutes of rain at 11pm. It’s just not worth taking too much notice of and definitely not worth stressing about.

5.7. Dates in Thailand

Thailand uses the Buddhist calendar, which puts year zero as the date Buddha attained parinibbāna. So, all the dates are different to the Gregorian and Hijri calendars that most visitors are used to.

It’s a simple conversion, though. If you need to convert from the Buddhist year to the Gregorian, subtract 543 from it. Currently, here in Thailand, the year is 2569.

5.8. The Grand Palace Does Actually Close!

The infamous tuktuk drivers of Bangkok will tell you all sorts of lies to get you in their vehicle – one of their favourites being the Grand Palace in Bangkok is shut, for various random reasons. It’s almost always a big ol’ fib.

However, the Grand Palace does actually close, so, very rarely, they’re correct! For example, on the Remembrance Day for King Rama IX (5^th December), the Grand Palace really is shut.

Check the official website for more information around the dates you’re visiting.

6.2. The Best Ways to Book a Plane, Train, ferry or Bus

I’ll just preface this section with – only fly if you must.

Most people visit Bangkok, Chiang Mai and some islands on a big first Thailand trip. This will involve long distances and utilising a variety of transport options throughout.

We use Skyscanner for all flight searching and have done for years – it’s by far the easiest and most flexible interface for searching all the airlines, routes and prices.

Tip | getting between cities and islands is usually done via bus, ferry, rental car or train. The easiest way to search for routes and representative prices is on 12GoAsia, the best transport aggregator in southeast Asia (and beyond). Usually they charge a dollar or so more than booking in person, but it’s ideal if you are on a tight schedule, want to read reviews, or just like things to be arranged in advance.

You can also arrange your transport to the Gulf Islands like Koh Samui on 12GoAsia, too.

6.3. Organising Tours in Thailand

Many people love to take an organised tour or two in Thailand. They make sense if you’re tight on time or do not have your own transport.

Whether it’s to Kanchanaburi to visit the famed River Kwai, a boat tour to Maya Bay, a cooking class, floating market or canal tour in Bangkok, a day trip to the stunning Ayutthaya, Bangkok’s crazy pink dragon temple or Chiang Rai’s mad White Temple, or even hiking to Thailand’s highest peak near Chiang Mai, Thailand has no end of organised opportunities.

Most excursions I mention above can be done independently (we tend to do this because we love an adventure – places like the incredible Huay Mae Khamin Falls near Kanchanaburi and the epic ruins at Sukhothai, for example). However, if you’re on a strict schedule, getting a tour arranged can remove the hassle and save a lot of time.

We use Get Your Guide for all our tour-based needs. It’s easy to search through, lists thousands of tours and, most importantly, has reviews. Booking in person doesn’t usually provide the opportunity to check out other people’s experiences!

7.2. Is Sunblock Expensive in Thailand?

Sunblock is available everywhere in Thailand. It’s not cheap to buy on the islands, but affordable if you buy in Bangkok. There are quite a lot of whitening creams, too, so make sure that your sun block doesn’t also bleach your skin (unless you want that, of course).

We’d honestly recommend covering up as much as you’re comfortable with in Thailand. The sun here is no joke and sweatily reapplying sunblock every three minutes is not fun (plus expensive, bad for the environment and not great for your skin).

Tip | if you swim in the sea, please check that your sunblock is reef-safe (check for known coral damaging oxybenzone or octinoxate in the ingredients). Thailand’s beaches are scattered with dead coral – don’t make it any worse.

7.3. What Days are Shops Shut?

In Europe, for example, many shops and businesses shut or reduce hours on a Sunday.

In Thailand, some street food vendors are closed on Mondays, so you’ll likely see empty stalls in the side alleys. Some restaurants also choose to close on Mondays, however most stay open, especially in the touristy areas.

Convenience stores like 7-Eleven and supermarkets like Lotus’s are open every day of the week (and many are open 24 hours).

Banks are typically shut on weekends unless they’re in a mall, then they tend to be open every day. I pay my rent on a Sunday all the time!

National holidays | almost all shops frequented by tourists will remain open during the national holidays in Thailand. Transport and accommodation are likewise not affected (except for maybe being busier).

7.4. Plus-Sized Shopping

If you are plus-sized or otherwise non-standard shaped (think: very tall, need larger bra sizes, have wider feet, etc.) then Thailand isn’t the best place to go shopping.

There are a few places that will cater, mainly in Bangkok, but for the most part, clothes shopping will be a miserable experience.

In Bangkok, the Platinum Fashion Mall and Krungthong Plaza are worth a wander around if you’re looking for larger clothes. Some random places will sell extra-large elephant pants too, if you’re lucky.

7.5. Haggling

Haggling is common in both the touristy markets of Thailand as well as local wholesale markets. If you’re buying a single item, you’ll have less negotiating maneuverability than if buying a bundle of items from a vendor.

The most important aspect of haggling in Thailand is to reach an acceptable price for both yourself and the vendor, not to ‘get a steal’ by trying to force a reluctant sale. If a price already seems reasonable to you, ask yourself why you’re trying to haggle it down further?

Having said that, avoid significant overpayment. Doing this seems harmless, but fundamentally changes the value of items for everyone, including residents, and can do long term damage as tourists continue to substantially overvalue products.

8.2. Do You Need a License to Rent a Scooter in Thailand?

Yes, you legally need a motorbike license, not just a car license, to rent a scooter or motorbike in Thailand (these vehicles are classed as the same, no matter the engine size).

If you are intending to rent a motorbike in Thailand, then you’ll need a 1968 or 1949 International Driving Permit and the relevant license in your home country. This means you’ll need the full motorbike class ‘A’ stamped in your IDP. An ‘A1’ or ‘A2’ stamp will not cover you in Thailand, as the country does not recognise these classes.

If you do not have this stamp then, in the event of an accident, you’re at risk of fines, liability and your insurance not paying out (medical care for serious incidents in Thailand is not cheap).

For more information, have a read of our Thai scooter rental guide.

8.3. Can I Rent a Scooter in Thailand Without a License?

Yes, you can rent a scooter in Thailand without a license, almost always (even though it is illegal).

You’ll be asked to leave a cash deposit for the bike, or sometimes your license or passport. Do not leave your passport, ever – a passport copy is all you should ever provide. Passports should not be required and could lead to you being extorted. We’ve never even paid a deposit (it’s best to rent through your accommodation if possible as it often avoids these issues).

However, we implore anyone who has never been on a scooter or motorbike to think twice about learning in Thailand. The roads are dangerous and, honestly, if I ever have an accident with an uninsured beginner rider who thought they’d try it for the first time in Thailand, of all countries, I’m going to rage out.

Get some lessons and ideally your license before you leave for your trip. Oh, and don’t drink alcohol if you’re driving and always wear a helmet, too.

8.4. Thailand’s Taxis

If you get a normal taxi in Thailand, ensure the driver uses the meter.

Better still, download the Grab and Bolt apps and use those instead (they’re exactly like Uber). Grab, in particular, allows you to connect your credit card, so you don’t even need any cash for your journeys. Bolt is generally slightly cheaper, but sometimes the wait times can be longer.

Tip | even when using Grab and Bolt, watch out for the driver trying to charge too much for toll roads – it’s happened a few times to us. Check the screen/sign when passing through a toll gate – the amount to pay is usually obvious. With Grab, ask them to add it to the total on your credit card, if you don’t have cash on hand.

8.5. Sleeper Trains To Chiang Mai Sell Out

Getting the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai has become a very popular, almost novelty, method of transport for tourists. However, it’s become so in-demand that the first- and second-class sleepers are regularly sold-out, months in advance. If you are looking to take this particular journey, plan far ahead (like months).

We’ve also had problems getting sleeper train tickets south past Hua Hin recently, although these are nowhere near as competitive.

Check on the official Thai train website for tickets, or book through 12GoAsia if the website is glitchy (it often is!). We’ve also secured second class beds directly at the main Bangkok station, around four days in advance.

Tip | don’t forget that there are also the daytime train journeys between Bangkok and Chiang Mai if the overnight tickets have sold out (we’ve done both day and overnight journeys between the cities and they’re both fine, but tedious). The scenery is nice, but the journey does feel long during the day!

8.6. Bangkok Has Two Main Airports

Bangkok has two major international airports. The largest one is Suvarnabhumi (don’t pronounce the ‘i’ at the end!), east of Bangkok, which is where most long-haul flights arrive (if you enter Thailand via any flagship airlines, they’ll land here). The airport code for Suvarnabhumi is BKK.

North of central Bangkok is Don Mueang International Airport, which is smaller and generally services more of the budget Asian airlines, like Air Asia. The airport code for Don Mueang is DMK.

You can’t transfer particularly quickly between them (they are 45 kilometres apart by road), so if you book a self-transfer flight, check which airport it leaves from. Lots of people organise a flight down to Phuket, for example, without realising that they are departing from a different Bangkok airport than the one they land in!

Tip | there’s a free shuttle bus between the two airports and the journey takes between 1-2 hours depending on traffic or heavy rain. The white bus is first-come, first-serve and there’s no luggage restrictions.

The transfer shuttle is only available for people transiting for flights between the two airports – you’ll need your boarding pass and passport to ride the bus.

The first bus from each airport departs at 05:00 and the last one at 24:00. The buses leave from DMK at Gate 6 on the first floor and at BKK from Gate 3 on the second floor. Buses run once an hour in the quieter times and up to every 20 minutes during peak flight transfer times (subject to change).

9.2. Thailand Has No Alcohol Days

The exception to the above is on certain national holidays and during elections, where no alcohol can be purchased, at all. Since 2009, these designated ‘no alcohol days’ in Thailand forbid alcohol to be sold in shops or restaurants. Our first ever trip to Bangkok, many moons ago, staying on Khao San Road coincided with Buddhist Lent!

The Thailand no-alcohol Buddhist days for 2026:
 
March 03 | Makha Bucha Day
May 31 | Visakha Bucha Day
Jul 29 | Asahna Bucha
Jul 30 | Wan Khao Phansa (Start of Buddhist Lent)
Oct 26 | Awk Phansa (End of Buddhist Lent)
 
No alcohol is sold in shops or restaurants during early voting days or on the actual day of voting, either, between 06:00 to 18:00.

9.3. Drinking in Public

Drinking in public is generally allowed in Thailand, however it is tolerated rather than accepted.

We have seen Thai people sat outside a 7-Eleven sharing a bottle of Chang with a straw, but it is generally rare to see a Thai person walking along the street with an open drink.

Drinking alcohol is (obviously) never permitted in sacred places such as wats, or public areas like parks and the Grand Palace, for example.

9.4. Lèse-majesté

In Thailand, it is a crime to insult, threaten or defame the Monarchy of Thailand, the heir to the throne, or the Regent of Thailand. Each count can carry a punishment of three to fifteen years imprisonment.
 
Take it seriously.

9.5. Exit Flight Requirements in Thailand

Entry into Thailand is usually straightforward for most foreigners visiting the country.

One thing to note is that, technically, you may be required to show an exit flight from Thailand if you are entering on a standard tourist visa or visa waiver. This might be either by Thai immigration or by your airline before boarding. Whether this happens appears random, however it’s happened to us more times than it hasn’t.

We found that it occurs often if we are flying from the West Asia or nearby southeast Asian countries. It’s happened less often when flying from London.

Either way, you should have the ability to book a cancellable flight, fast, in case you are asked for one, or use an onward ticket website which books a temporary ticket that you pay a nominal fee for. We’ve used this several times and it’s always been fine.

9.6. AirBnb is Illegal in Thailand

Well, it’s sort of illegal.

Any individual stay below a month is technically illegal (there are a few caveats), even though many people still rent their properties this way. If you’re looking at somewhere rural, I don’t think it’s likely to matter too much, but for condos in Bangkok, it’s a different ballgame.

In Bangkok, many of the condos have large signs shouting ‘NO AIRBNB’ at you (we’ve viewed a lot of condos!) and sometimes security can be really strict about it.

Tip | we’d recommend avoiding AirBnB in Bangkok, just because you don’t know how awkward it may end up being and you may be asked to lie (this happened to our friends and they were harassed by building security).

Obviously, if you’re staying for more than a month, then none of this is an issue.